On Wednesday, fourth-seeded Naomi Osaka reached the Western & Southern Open semi-finals at the USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center and retired hours later in a demand for racial justice, garnering quick support from other players. Immediately after that, the entire tournament was suspended for one day.
“As a sport, tennis is collectively taking a stand against racial inequality and social injustice that has once again been brought to the fore in the United States. The USTA, the ATP Tour and the WTA have agreed to recognize this moment in time by stopping the tournaments at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday, August 27, “the three organizations said in a statement.
Osaka, the Japanese star and last-seeded top 10 in the women’s group, joined pro athletes in basketball, baseball and football in a demanding change after Jacob Blake was killed by police.
Osaka tweeted that as a black woman, she feels compelled to retire from the tournament to focus on the police shooting blacks.
“I don’t expect anything drastic to happen if I don’t play, but if I can get a conversation started in a predominantly white sport I consider it a step in the right direction,” tweeted Osaka. “Watching the continuing genocide of blacks at the hands of the police makes me sick frankly.
“I’m exhausted of having a new hashtag showing up every few days and I’m extremely tired of having this same conversation over and over. When will it ever be enough?”
His move quickly garnered support from fellow tour players.
Sloane Stephens retweeted the message and added: “Say it louder! Proud of you “and in a separate tweet he added, # Proud of all the sports teams and athletes who have taken a stand #BLM tonight”
After reaching the semi-finals on Wednesday at the end, Milos Raonic said the ATP and WTA should consider joint action that goes beyond a small group of players.
“I think the real disruption, this is what makes the change, and I think a lot of real disruptions are caused by influencing people in a monetary way and can force some kind of change,” he said. “I hope that at least on the men’s tour as well as the women’s tour, we team up and show support.”
All NBA and WNBA games, three Major League Baseball games, and five of six Major League Soccer games were canceled Wednesday because the athletes were demanding racial justice.
Osaka beat number 12 Anett Kontaveit 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 on Wednesday afternoon, reaching the semi-finals as the only player in the top 10 remaining in the group. Late Wednesday evening, she was still scheduled to play Elise Mertens’ number 14 in the semifinals.
Victoria Azarenka will play eighth seeded Johanna Konta in the other women’s semifinal. Konta beat Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-3 and Azarenka advanced in two sets against Ons Jabeur.
Azarenka, who was number 1 in 2012, admitted Wednesday that she was considering retiring earlier this year. She is currently number 59 but has reached her first semifinal since April 2019.
“In January, I didn’t know if I was going to play at all,” he said. “So at the end of January I decided: you know what? I could try, last time, and see what happens. “
In the men’s group, first place Novak Djokovic had no problems with a creaking neck or swirling wind during a 6-3, 6-1 win over Jan-Lennard Struff, which was by far his best performance of the week. .
So far, no rust after the long layoff from competitive tennis.
“Everything has been worked on in the last six months, I’ve had a lot of time,” said Djokovic. “I worked on every single thing. It’s great that it’s paying off so soon after the break. “
Djokovic tested positive for COVID-19 after the exhibition matches he organized in Serbia and Croatia in June without social detachment.
In his Monday game against Ricardas Berankis, Djokovic had his aching neck massaged twice by a coach during a 7-6 (2), 6-4 win that included seven double fouls. His neck has improved, as has his overall game.
“Right now it’s not a problem,” he said. “It’s not 100% yet but it’s close to that. Every single day I gain more space in my neck movements, so we can’t complain. “
In the semifinals, he will face Roberto Bautista Agut, who eliminated defending champion Daniil Medvedev earlier in the day.
Medvedev failed to close it in the second set and Bautista Agut mobilized for a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 win that knocked out another top player from the US Open setup tournament. Djokovic is the only player left in the tournament with an ATP Masters 1000 title to his credit.
Medvedev led 4-3 in the second before letting it slip. He converted only five of the 20 break points in the match and ultimately smashed his racket into the court in frustration.
“Even in the third set I had my chances and I didn’t use them,” Medvedev said.
Bautista Agut reached his third Masters semifinal and first since 2016. He needed a set to adapt to the breezy and cool conditions on the pitch.
“It’s never easy to come back and play well at the beginning,” he said. “I have to be patient, to try and enjoy every single game I play here after six months without competing. Just happy and happy to be in the semifinals “.
Medvedev hoisted the Rookwood Pottery Champion Cup last year in Mason, Ohio, where the tournament is held annually. This year’s event has been moved to the US Open site in Flushing Meadows due to pandemic precautions, creating a two-tournament event with no spectators.
Fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas also made it through to the semi-finals when Reilly Opelka retired during the first set of the game Wednesday after being treated for a right knee injury. He will face Raonic, who beat Filip Krajinovic 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5.
.
